Exodus 3:13

KJV

And Moses said unto God, Behold, [when] I come unto the children of Israel, and shall say unto them, The God of your fathers hath sent me unto you; and they shall say to me, What [is] his name? what shall I say unto them?

KJV (with Strong's)

And Moses {H4872} said {H559} unto God {H430}, Behold, when I come {H935} unto the children {H1121} of Israel {H3478}, and shall say {H559} unto them, The God {H430} of your fathers {H1} hath sent {H7971} me unto you; and they shall say {H559} to me, What is his name {H8034}? what shall I say {H559} unto them?

Complete Jewish Bible

Moshe said to God, "Look, when I appear before the people of Isra'el and say to them, 'The God of your ancestors has sent me to you'; and they ask me, 'What is his name?' what am I to tell them?"

Berean Standard Bible

Then Moses asked God, “Suppose I go to the Israelites and say to them, ‘The God of your fathers has sent me to you,’ and they ask me, ‘What is His name?’ What should I tell them?”

American Standard Version

And Moses said unto God, Behold, when I come unto the children of Israel, and shall say unto them, The God of your fathers hath sent me unto you; and they shall say to me, What is his name? What shall I say unto them?

Commentary

### SUMMARY
In [Exodus 3:13](/exodus/3-13 "Moses's Question to God"), Moses, having received his divine commission, anticipates the skepticism of the enslaved Israelites. He foresees their crucial question, "What is his name?", recognizing that for them, knowing God's name is essential for understanding His essence, character, and authority, thereby distinguishing Him from the myriad Egyptian deities. This pivotal inquiry sets the stage for God's profound self-revelation in the subsequent verse, establishing the unique identity of the God of Israel.

### CONTEXT
This verse is a critical juncture in the narrative of God's call to Moses at the burning bush. Following God's declaration to [send Moses to Pharaoh and bring the Israelites out of Egypt](/exodus/3-10 "God's Commission to Moses"), Moses raises a series of objections and questions concerning his fitness and the reception he will face. His initial protest, "Who am I?", was met with God's assurance of His unwavering presence ([Exodus 3:12](/exodus/3-12 "God's Promise of Presence")). Here, Moses presents a practical challenge: how will the enslaved Israelites, who have lived for centuries under Egyptian polytheism, recognize the authority of the God of their ancestors if they do not know His specific name? This insightful question directly precipitates one of the most significant divine revelations in the Old Testament, unfolding immediately thereafter.

### EXPOSITION AND ANALYSIS
Moses's question in [Exodus 3:13](/exodus/3-13 "Moses's Inquiry About God's Name") is not a sign of doubt in God's power, but rather a pragmatic concern rooted in his understanding of the cultural and theological landscape of his time. He anticipates the Israelites' need for a clear, authoritative identification of the deity sending him:

* **Anticipating Skepticism:** Moses foresees that when he claims, "The God of your fathers hath sent me unto you," the Israelites, having endured generations of oppression and exposure to Egyptian polytheism, will demand specific identification. Their question, "What is his name?", is a logical and necessary query for people seeking a tangible basis for faith and obedience.
* **The Significance of "Name" (_shem_):** In ancient Near Eastern cultures, a name was far more than a mere label; it conveyed character, essence, authority, and destiny. To know a god's name was to understand their nature, power, and sphere of influence, providing a basis for worship, appeal, or distinction. Moses understands that the Israelites need to know the very being of this God to differentiate Him from the numerous Egyptian deities and to grasp the weight of His command. The Hebrew word for "name" is *shem* (שֵׁם), emphasizing this profound cultural and theological significance.
* **Connecting to Ancestral Faith:** Moses grounds his message in the continuity of the covenant, referring to the sender as "The God of your fathers." This links the present divine intervention to the historical relationship God had with Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob ([Exodus 3:6](/exodus/3-6 "The God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob")), aiming to evoke a sense of heritage and divine faithfulness among the Israelites.
* **Moses's Role as Mediator:** Moses, in asking this question, acts as an astute mediator, not just for himself but for the people he is called to lead. He seeks the necessary information to effectively convey God's message and establish His authority, demonstrating his deep awareness of the enormity of the task and his own limitations. His question sets the stage for God to reveal His unique and powerful identity, thereby solidifying the foundation of Israel's faith and their understanding of their covenant relationship.

### THEOLOGICAL AND THEMATIC CONNECTIONS
* **Divine Self-Revelation:** This verse serves as a crucial prelude to God's profound self-disclosure in [Exodus 3:14](/exodus/3-14 "God's Revelation as 'I AM THAT I AM'"), where He reveals His unique and eternal name, YHWH.
* **The Importance of God's Character and Identity:** The emphasis on God's "name" highlights that true faith is built upon knowing who God is—His nature, attributes, and covenant faithfulness—rather than merely knowing about Him.
* **God's Patience with Human Questions:** God patiently listens to Moses's concerns and provides a comprehensive answer, demonstrating His willingness to engage with human doubts and provide clarity.
* **Covenant Continuity:** The reference to "the God of your fathers" underscores God's faithfulness to His covenant promises made to Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, affirming His unchanging character across generations.
* **Distinction of the True God:** Moses's question implicitly acknowledges the need to distinguish the one true God from the polytheistic context of Egypt, setting the stage for God to reveal His singular, incomparable identity.

### REFLECTION AND APPLICATION
[Exodus 3:13](/exodus/3-13 "Moses's Practical Question") offers timeless truths for believers today. Just as God patiently listened to Moses's concerns and provided a profound answer, He remains attentive to our doubts and questions, desiring to reveal Himself more fully to us. Understanding God's name, particularly His revealed name YHWH ("I AM"), is foundational to our faith, signifying His eternal, self-existent, and covenant-keeping nature. Our trust in God is built on who He is, not just what He does. Furthermore, like Moses, we are called to bear witness to God's truth. This verse encourages us to be prepared to articulate who God is and what He has done, especially in a world that may not know Him or may hold distorted views. Knowing God's character allows us to share His message with confidence and clarity, anticipating and addressing the genuine questions of those we seek to reach.

### FAQ
**Why was knowing God's name so important in ancient cultures?**

Answer: In ancient Near Eastern cultures, a name was believed to embody the essence, character, and power of the person or deity it represented. To know a god's name was to understand their nature, authority, and even to have a basis for invoking them. For the Israelites, knowing God's specific name would distinguish Him from the numerous Egyptian deities and provide a clear, authoritative identity for the God who was sending Moses.

**Did Moses doubt God's power by asking "What is his name?"**

Answer: Moses's question was not an expression of doubt in God's power, but rather a practical and insightful inquiry about how he could effectively convey God's authority to a people steeped in polytheism. He understood the cultural significance of a name and sought the specific revelation necessary to establish God's unique identity and credibility among the Israelites.

**What does "the God of your fathers" signify in this context?**

Answer: "The God of your fathers" refers to the God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. This phrase emphasizes the continuity of God's covenant relationship with His people across generations. It reminds the Israelites of their heritage and God's faithfulness to the promises made to their ancestors, grounding the current divine intervention in their historical and theological roots.

### CHRIST-CENTERED FULFILLMENT
The question posed by Moses in [Exodus 3:13](/exodus/3-13 "Moses's Question Leading to Revelation") finds its ultimate fulfillment in Jesus Christ, who is the full and final revelation of God's name and character. While God revealed His covenant name YHWH to Moses, Jesus, through His own "I AM" statements (e.g., [John 8:58](/john/8-58 "Jesus's 'I AM' Claim")), unequivocally declared His divine identity, echoing the very essence of the God who spoke from the burning bush. In Jesus, the abstract concept of God's name becomes incarnate and accessible. He is the visible image of the invisible God ([Colossians 1:15](/colossians/1-15 "Christ as the Image of God")), perfectly embodying God's nature, power, and redemptive purpose. Through His life, death, and resurrection, Jesus fully reveals the Father's love and establishes the new covenant, making God's name known and His presence powerfully felt, inviting all to know Him personally through faith in His name ([Acts 4:12](/acts/4-12 "Salvation in No Other Name")).

Note: Commentary is generated by AI with a directive for Biblical fidelity. Always rely on the Holy Spirit for discernment. The Scripture text and cross-references are from verified, non-AI sources.

Cross-References

Isaiah 9:6

For unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given: and the government shall be upon his shoulder: and his name shall be called Wonderful, Counsellor, The mighty God, The everlasting Father, The Prince of Peace.

Exodus 3:14

And God said unto Moses, I AM THAT I AM: and he said, Thus shalt thou say unto the children of Israel, I AM hath sent me unto you.

Genesis 32:29

And Jacob asked [him], and said, Tell [me], I pray thee, thy name. And he said, Wherefore [is] it [that] thou dost ask after my name? And he blessed him there.

Isaiah 7:14

Therefore the Lord himself shall give you a sign; Behold, a virgin shall conceive, and bear a son, and shall call his name Immanuel.

Matthew 1:21

And she shall bring forth a son, and thou shalt call his name JESUS: for he shall save his people from their sins.

Proverbs 30:4

Who hath ascended up into heaven, or descended? who hath gathered the wind in his fists? who hath bound the waters in a garment? who hath established all the ends of the earth? what [is] his name, and what [is] his son's name, if thou canst tell?

Jeremiah 23:6

In his days Judah shall be saved, and Israel shall dwell safely: and this [is] his name whereby he shall be called, THE LORD OUR RIGHTEOUSNESS.